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Thursday, June 23, 2011

Domtar announces that Rothschild biomass project is under way

ROTHSCHILD -- The long public debate over a proposed biomass power plant in Rothschild came to an end Monday when Domtar announced plans to move forward with the $255 million project.

The 50-megawatt power plant, a joint effort of Milwaukee utility We Energies and Domtar paper, is expected to burn 500,000 tons of the tops and limbs of trees left behind by traditional logging operations each year.

"(The final decision) puts ... everything behind us," Rothschild Village Board President George Peterson said. "We can move forward, We Energies and Domtar can move forward."

We Energies spokesman Brian Manthey said crews will begin working this week at the site adjacent to the existing Domtar mill on Business Highway 51 in Rothschild.

Manthey said We Energies still hopes to have the plant completed by the end of 2013, the eligibility deadline for federal tax credits. The facility also is part of We Energies' plan to comply with state regulations requiring at least 8 percent of utilities' sales to come from renewable energy by 2015.